Croatia 0611

A whirlwind tour through the jewel of the Dalmatian coast. Formerly the province of Dalmatia during the Roman empire, Croatia was then fought over by the merchant city-states like Venice during the middle ages, raised defenses against the Turks and finally became part of Yugoslavia after the break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The civil wars of the 90's are settled and the gorgeous coast brings tourists from all over Europe. We started in the famous walled city of Dubrovnik, then by car up the coast to Split, Trogir and Zadar with a couple island trips in between. Then inland to the national parks of Krka and the highlight, Plitvice, with its endless spectacular waterfalls (more pics to come in the Landscape gallery), and finally finishing up in the capital, Zagreb.

A postcard of Dubrovnik.
The view down Dubrovnik's main street, Placa, from the walls above the Pile gate.
Houses within the walls of Dubrovnik.
Houses inside the walls of Dubrovnik
Tending flowers along the walls of Dubrovnik
Street scene, Dubrovnik.
The walls of Dubrovnik at night.
A window onto a doorway.
Split at sunset. The tower in the center marks Diocletian's Palace with the rest of the old town spilling out towards the west. The Riva, a wide boardwalk, runs along the waterfront and is filled with cafes,
The narrow passages within Diocletian's Palace, Split.
Split's main square at night. Our balcony was right under the clock face.
Security at Split's Gay Pride parade.
Security was intense for Split's first-ever Gay Pride parade, with several hundred officers in full riot gear to protect approximately 100 marchers.
The crowd was overwhelmingly hostile to the Gay Pride participants. Lots of jeering, whistling (booing) as well as ripping up and throwing landscaping and other items at the marchers.
Vegetable vendor, Split.
Vegetable vendor, Split.
The 10th century bishop Gregorius of Nin. Although we agreed he looks more like Dumbledore.
Cafe culture on the Riva, Split.
A poster supporting General Ante Gotovina in Split's main square. General Gotovina was recently sentenced to 24 years by the International Tribunal in the Hague for actions during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
Krka National Park.
Krka National Park
Cathedral of St. James, Sibenik.
Honey, jams, olive oils and other specialty foods, Trogir.
Street scene, Trogir.
Street scene, Trogir.
Street scene, Trogir.
Croatian oxymoron.
The Forum, Roman ruins and medieval buildings, Zadar.
The Forum, Roman ruins and medieval buildings, Zadar.
The Red Cinema, Zadar
Kornati Islands.
Open wide!
The Sun Salutation, Zadar. The photovoltaic cells charge all day and at sunset put on a fantastic light show.
Chuckie's possessed toy bike.
The ancient fortress of Klis.
The "lower" lakes, Plitvice National Park
Pathway in Plitvice National Park. All the "trails" through the park are on these elevated paths in order to protect to formations and vegetation.
Plitvice National Park.
Flowing water, Plitvice National Park.

phil sokol

Croatia 0611